The University of Arizona has an incredible program for aspiring entrepreneurs and later in the afternoon of March 11, 2014 the Eco-E Path mosaic group was able to meet with a successful business group that originated out of ASU. David Wade, CEO, and Adam Brown, COO spoke on behalf of Pollen-Tech, a start up and family run company, that has identified the impacts of honeybee colony collapse on farmers and the economy. This start up company was chosen to have office space and mentors from Sky Song, an organization that is dedicated to the well being of start up companies. Pollen-Tech has developed an all-natural pollen that can be directly sprayed on crops, more specifically, almond crops to increase yields without putting pressure on the declining honeybee populations. They developed a Try and Buy Program with the largest almond suppliers in California. Pollen-Tech tests their sprays on these commercial almond farms and is then paid for their testing. Pollen-Tech hopes to achieve organic certification within the coming years for their pollen spray.

I appreciated hearing their start up story and the advice that the partners gave to the mosaic group. David and Adam emphasized the importance of getting to know your customers, their needs, and wants. Without a more personal relationship, business will not be as successful. Furthermore, they reminded us that everything must be in writing. In the classroom, we have already learned the importance of contracts in our Education for Entrepreneurs course, but hearing it from partners in a start up company made that reality all the more real.

Pollen-Tech, did not contribute much advice to the development of our new curriculum. However, from our meeting I now have a better understanding of what ‘sustainable entrepreneurship’ actually means. Entrepreneurship is the act of identifying a problem and creating an innovative solution that will benefit society in a less cost intensive way. The sustainable aspect is derived from the act of finding a solution to an environmental or social issue within society, in a sustainable way that will benefit others. Pollen-Tech has identified an environmental issue and is working to solve it in a sustainable way that will benefit the environment, farmers, and the economy in the long run. I believe that the mosaic group’s interaction was positive and gave us a perspective of what ‘sustainable entrepreneurship’ truly is.